PHOTOS: Powerful thunderstorms sweep through southern Ontario
Severe thunderstorms erupted over southern Ontario on Wednesday as a cold front plowed into the slog of summer-like heat and humidity parked over the region.
The powerful storms blossomed along the cold front as it spanned the southern half of the province. Folks from Windsor to the Niagara Region had to contend with powerful wind gusts, hail, and torrential rainfall as the storms swept through.
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Drivers had a tough time navigating local roadways as driving rains reduced visibility to dangerously low levels.
Strong wind gusts knocked down trees and power lines, with one downed tree even taking out a traffic light in Windsor. Hydro One reported about 20,000 customers remained without power by mid-afternoon Wednesday, with outages spanning the province.
The bulk of the outages were centred around the heart of Wednesday afternoon’s storm activity, though several thousand outages lingered from early-morning storms in eastern Ontario and several earlier rounds of severe weather across northern sections of the province.
Residents flooded social media with pictures and videos of the storms as they rolled through the area. Check out some of the gripping visuals, below.
You get one guess where the core is and which direction it's going in. Wow! @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/VeUlm1c9dA
You get one guess where the core is and which direction it’s going in. Wow! Mark Robinson on Twitter: "You get one guess where the core is and which direction it's going in. Wow! @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/VeUlm1c9dA / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "You get one guess where the core is and which direction it's going in. Wow! @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/VeUlm1c9dA / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "You get one guess where the core is and which direction it's going in. Wow! @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/VeUlm1c9dA / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "You get one guess where the core is and which direction it's going in. Wow! @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/VeUlm1c9dA / Twitter"
This vehicle was a victim of the severe storm that blew through. West side of Windsor not far from downtown. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/I3ETDYk3o0
This vehicle was a victim of the severe storm that blew through. West side of Windsor not far from downtown. Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "This vehicle was a victim of the severe storm that blew through. West side of Windsor not far from downtown. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/I3ETDYk3o0 / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "This vehicle was a victim of the severe storm that blew through. West side of Windsor not far from downtown. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/I3ETDYk3o0 / Twitter"
— Tony Annyschyn (@Bowler1961) Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "This vehicle was a victim of the severe storm that blew through. West side of Windsor not far from downtown. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/I3ETDYk3o0 / Twitter"
Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. #onwx #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/SjQX3jb9iI
Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. Alex Masse on Twitter: "Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. #onwx #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/SjQX3jb9iI / Twitter" Alex Masse on Twitter: "Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. #onwx #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/SjQX3jb9iI / Twitter" Alex Masse on Twitter: "Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. #onwx #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/SjQX3jb9iI / Twitter"
— Alex Masse (@CAlexMasse) Alex Masse on Twitter: "Tree damage around Sparta. Pretty basic. Some are decayed. #onwx #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/SjQX3jb9iI / Twitter"
And there's the torrential rains! South f London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/rzoYRQE2Tf
And there’s the torrential rains! South f London now. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the torrential rains! South f London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/rzoYRQE2Tf / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the torrential rains! South f London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/rzoYRQE2Tf / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the torrential rains! South f London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/rzoYRQE2Tf / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the torrential rains! South f London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/rzoYRQE2Tf / Twitter"
What a crazy storm. Tree down on 4 properties in Peacock Point. No injuries. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jIcj8PaYI9
What a crazy storm. Tree down on 4 properties in Peacock Point. No injuries. Bonnie on Twitter: "What a crazy storm. Tree down on 4 properties in Peacock Point. No injuries. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jIcj8PaYI9 / Twitter" Bonnie on Twitter: "What a crazy storm. Tree down on 4 properties in Peacock Point. No injuries. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jIcj8PaYI9 / Twitter"
— Bonnie (@BonnieEsson) Bonnie on Twitter: "What a crazy storm. Tree down on 4 properties in Peacock Point. No injuries. #onstorm pic.twitter.com/jIcj8PaYI9 / Twitter"
A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T
A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter" Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter" Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter" Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter" Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter" Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter"
— Rosyla Streaming Network (@Rosyla_SN) Rosyla Streaming Network on Twitter: "A lot of tree damage in Windsor, Ontario! This just fell within inches from crushing that poor crossing guard!#Windsor #ONStorm #Storms #lightning @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/UomCWEQ61T / Twitter"
The line is about to bury me south of London. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/lqoU9iG98Q
The line is about to bury me south of London. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The line is about to bury me south of London. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/lqoU9iG98Q / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The line is about to bury me south of London. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/lqoU9iG98Q / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The line is about to bury me south of London. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/lqoU9iG98Q / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "The line is about to bury me south of London. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/lqoU9iG98Q / Twitter"
Embedded content: https://twitter.com/dylanpexe/status/1532056232944541696
@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm
Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now…immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter" Tony Annyschyn on Twitter: "@WE_SEE_ @dave_sills @StormhunterTWN @nadinehp4 @tempesthunterph @CraigDunmore @PGLocal4 @ShannBradbury Dangerous weather hitting the Windsor area now...immediately after shooting this video, torrential rainfall and gusty winds from this severe-warned cell. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/ELWtWhkAIm / Twitter"
Jaw is on the floor w of Selkirk, omg. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/A99dIlLfHF
Jaw is on the floor w of Selkirk, omg. Owen Huisman on Twitter: "Jaw is on the floor w of Selkirk, omg. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/A99dIlLfHF / Twitter" Owen Huisman on Twitter: "Jaw is on the floor w of Selkirk, omg. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/A99dIlLfHF / Twitter"
— Owen Huisman (@NatGeOwen) Owen Huisman on Twitter: "Jaw is on the floor w of Selkirk, omg. #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/A99dIlLfHF / Twitter"
And there's the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/J133Nfx6mk
And there’s the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/J133Nfx6mk / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/J133Nfx6mk / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/J133Nfx6mk / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And there's the hail! Nothing big, just pea sized. South of London now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/J133Nfx6mk / Twitter"
Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn
Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" now with plenty more to come!Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter" Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter"
— Andy Harris (@lev8lowlevel) Andy Harris on Twitter: "Torrential rain & crazy lightning storm hitting #Welland #Niagara #Ontario now with plenty more to come!#SNRTG #OnStorm @MurphTWN @weathernetwork @Niagara_411 @917GIANTFM pic.twitter.com/E4Ob8fTjOn / Twitter"
And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/IUaFUJBcWZ
And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/IUaFUJBcWZ / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/IUaFUJBcWZ / Twitter" Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/IUaFUJBcWZ / Twitter"
— Mark Robinson (@StormhunterTWN) Mark Robinson on Twitter: "And this is why I was saying earlier this morning that you might be into some difficult driving conditions. North of St Thomas now. @weathernetwork #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/IUaFUJBcWZ / Twitter"
Just raining a little bit lol 😂 #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/tl5fRP0q0e
Just raining a little bit lol 😂 Randy Wiebe on Twitter: "Just raining a little bit lol 😂 #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/tl5fRP0q0e / Twitter" Randy Wiebe on Twitter: "Just raining a little bit lol 😂 #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/tl5fRP0q0e / Twitter"
— Randy Wiebe (@RMWPHOTOCA) Randy Wiebe on Twitter: "Just raining a little bit lol 😂 #ONStorm pic.twitter.com/tl5fRP0q0e / Twitter"
Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M
Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"🌧 in the Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"☔️ Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"🇨🇦 Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter" Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"
— Eva Maria Weber (@evaticat) Eva Maria Weber on Twitter: "Good afternoon!🙂 With much needed #rain🌧 in the #garden💚 after two days of scorching 🥵 heat #ONStorm☔️ #Niagara🇨🇦 @weathernetwork pic.twitter.com/58eEPPf45M / Twitter"
ONStorm Glencoe, Ontario at 2:06pm pic.twitter.com/RSorWL8cN1
Shane DePelsmaeker on Twitter: "#ONStorm Glencoe, Ontario at 2:06pm pic.twitter.com/RSorWL8cN1 / Twitter" Glencoe, Ontario at 2:06pm Shane DePelsmaeker on Twitter: "#ONStorm Glencoe, Ontario at 2:06pm pic.twitter.com/RSorWL8cN1 / Twitter"
— Shane DePelsmaeker (@shanedepels) Shane DePelsmaeker on Twitter: "#ONStorm Glencoe, Ontario at 2:06pm pic.twitter.com/RSorWL8cN1 / Twitter"